Vaughn's POV

Ngayon ay sabado kaya hindi mainggay ang MMC men's dormitory--sa wakas. Tuwing katapusan ng linggo, halos lahat ng mga estudyante ay umuuwi sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan o mag-travel. Habang wala sila, ninanamnam ko naman ang payapang lugar.

Kung bakit nandito pa rin ako sa MMC kahit weekends, iyon ay dahil anong oras man ngayon ay dadating ang babaeng nanaginip tungkol kay Klovia at ako ang susundo sa kanya sa airport--as always and as usual.

Klovia is an ancient goddess who is, according to the book of Groz entitled "Asluna", the reason why the altus kind have emerged. My question is: what does the ancient goddess want from this girl? Of all altus in the world, why was this girl chosen?

Ang mga ginawa kong pag-book ng tickets sa eroplano, ng accommodations at iba pa kahapon ay para sa mga utos 'raw' ni Klovia sa babaeng dadating.

"Vaughn, anong breakfast?" tanong ni Auriel, isa sa mga dormmate ko, sa aking isipan.

Nandito ako ngayon sa aming dorm at nagluluto. Wala kasing cafeteria ngayon dahil weekends. Pero kahit may cafeteria man, kapag may oras akong magluto ay magluluto ako.

"Gusto mo ng tapsil--" Naputol ang sasabihin ko ng bigla siyang sumulpot sa likuran ko.

"Tapsilog ba?!" nasasabik niyang sabi, sabay tulak sa akin gilid.

Napangisi ako, "I'm cooking pork blood stew."

Napabuntong hininga siya, bumaling sa akin, at mas lalo pangsuminkit ang kanyang singkit na mata.

What?

Napangisi ako.

"Who eats pork blood stew for breakfast, dude?"

"Why are you still so dumb?" sagot ko, sabay kuha sa minced pork.

Syempre ako ang kakain, bakit ako magluluto kung hindi ko rin naman kakainin?

"Alam mo, dude. Paasa ka! Tinanong mo pa ako kung gusto ko ng tapsilog, tapos ganito?" sabi niya, sabay buntong hinga at iling, "What a walking red flag."

I snorted. He is overacting!

"I was just asking if you wanted fried rice, beef tapa, and egg. I didn't say I was cooking it, you dumb. That is why girls are able to trick you," sabi ko, sabay iling, "You didn't learn at all."

"Whatever, dude."--Iyan ang linya niya kapag manghihingi rin naman pala--"Pahingi nalang ako niyan. Two days na akong hindi nakakain kaya kumakalam na ang sikmura ko."

What did I say? Manghihingi rin.

"No worries," sabi ko dahil hindi naman ako madamot.

"Ey, by the way, why did you came home late yesterday?" sabi niya habang nagpho-phone.

I snorted.

"Parent na ba kita ngayon?" sabi ko habang hinahalo ang minced pork.

"Ay!"--tumayo siya--"Hindi ko rin gugustuhin magkaroon ng red flag na anak, dude. Pero, seryoso, ano ba ang nangyari at bakit natagalan ka ng uwi? Sino-stalk mo na naman ba si Zadi--"

Hindi niya natapos ang kanyang sasabihin ng idiniin ko sa bunganga niya ng pinalutang ko na tinapay. Nosy people. Oo, gusto ko si Zadiana. Pero hindi ko siya sino-stalk kasi hindi naman kailangan. Magka-klase kami at pareho ring parte ng student government. At anong akala niya? Na obsessed ako? Heck no! I just find Zadiana my ideal kind of woman.

"Perhaps, you prefer take out?" sabi ko na ikina-iling naman niya, "Then, shut your mouth because that didn't happen."

"So, what really happened?" tanong niya sa aking isipan--syempre hindi nas siya makapagsalita, eh.

"Alam mo, sana 'yong sinabi mo na lang iyong nangyari. But, Quia, on the other hand, happened. Damn it!"

Nanlaki ang kanyang singkit na mata at dali-dali niyang kinuha ang tinapay mula sa kanyang bibig.

"Who is Quia, dude?" lumapit siya sa akin, "Your new chic?"

Chic? She is, by looks, yes. But, she has bad temper that I don't know how to deal with. She is never going to be 'my chic'.

"I'd rather have a chick that have her--"

"I thought you don't like chicks?" he said, making me give him a side eye, "Come on, tell me what happened that night!"

So, I told him everything that has happened that night--that stupid night--while waiting for my pork blood stew to cook.

"I think you completely misunderstood her, dude. You got to find your EQ, man," sabi niya, sabay iling.

A what? EQ? What part did I misunderstood?

"First, I don't have EQ. Dude, I'm not a baby to wear those diapers," I said--acting dumb.

"Very funny, dude. Very funny, haha," sarkastiko niyang sabi, "You're not just a walking red flag afterall."

"Woah, the judgement right there!"

"You know what, dude. Since you've been calling me dumb, let's make a dumb club together. Shall we?"

My lips parted.

"Hey, don't include me in your league!" I said, a bit offended, "And, why did I even bother telling you about it?"

Okay na ang dinuguan kaya kumuha ako ng mangkok.

"My goodness, dude. Yes, you look eighteen, but do remember that you're thirty six--thirty and six years old! Why can't I find your maturity about these things!"

Find it in hell then.

"Well, can we stop talking about this? It's rubbish. I thought you are starving?"

"www.palusot.com ka, dude. Hay," sabi niya ng umiiling.

~

Kasalukuyan akong nagme-meditate sa rooftop ng Club Hall, suot ang puting sando at maluwang na pantaon, nang tumunog ang aking phone. Hindi nako na ako nag-abalang tumayo. I closed my eyes, gathered the energy of this place, and chanted, making my phone float towards me. Then, I answered.

"Good morning, si--"

"Mr. Genterone, are you still in the campus?" sabi ng campus director na tila balisa.

Anong nangyari? He is ,by far, one of the most composed person I've met.

"Yes, s--"

"Good. Now, listen," sabi niya ng may diin, "I recieved a call from a nurse of MMC Clinic. You need to take good care of Quia while I'm not around."--Wait, what? No way!--"They found out that she passed out because of starvation while doing sarva."

"What?" sabi ko, sabay tayo.

Anong iniisip ng babaeng iyon? Kahit na mga altus kami at kaya namin hindi gutumin ng dalawang araw, kailangan pa rin namin ng pagkain para sa nutrisyon at enerhiya para makapag-sarva kami. What stupidity got to her?!

"You heard me right, Mr. Volpe. Now, hurry up."

This can't be happening! Damn!

Hindi ko na pinatay ang tawag at agad na nagchant at nagteleport sa harap ng clinic. Agad kong tinanong ang nurse na nasa desk kung nasaan si Quia. Sabi niya, sa Room 2 daw. Dahil hindi naman ito malayo ay tinakbo ko na lang. Nakalimutan kong kumatok at agad na pumasok. At bumugad sa akin ang natutulog na anyo ni Quia.

Good. She looks like she's okay now.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag at umupo sa upuan sa gilid ng kanyang kama. Nang tumingin ako sa paligid ay napansin kong bukas ang mga bintana. Kaya tumayo ako para gamitin sana ang blinds. Pero habang papunta ako sa bintana ay may napansin ako sa likod ng tenga ni Quia. Hindi ko ito nakita kahapon dahil nakalugay ang makapal niyang itim na buhok.

Dahan-dahan akong lumapit kay Quia. May maliit siyang tatoo sa likuran ng kanyang tenga na nasa mga isang sentimetro lang. Nang nasa may kama na ako ay pinigilan ko ang sarili kong huminga para hindi siya magising. Hugis parisukat ang tatoo niya. May mga sulat sa loob ng parisukat na hindi ko lubos mabasa dahil sa liit at kakaibang alpabeto nito.

Nanlaki ang mata ko at biglang uminit ang pisngi nang biglang bumaling si Quia sa akin at halos magtagpo ang aming mga ilong.

"What are you doing here?" napapaos pero may diin niyang sabi.

I slowly lifted my face away from her. Jesus, the heat on my face and ears.

"Well..." I fakely coughed to gather myself together, "Anyway, you are still my resposibility."

She snorted and rolled her eyes, "It's 21st century, a woman can take care of herself!"

It's my turn to snort, "Of course, that is why you are here, right?"

Totoo naman na kaya naman ng mga babae mag-isa, na kaya nila magpunyagi mag-isa. But this girl, I do not want to get beaten by her. Yes, I am usually competetive, but I have never been petty like this. Damn it!

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin, "It was just one mistake--"

"Yes, one mistake that could have taken your life!" sinabi ko ng may diin, "Have you realized that?"

"Why are you pissed off? You can just leave me right now, you know. I would actually prefer that!" sabi niya, sabay talikod sa akin.

Damn it.

Bumalik ako sa upuan sa gilid ng kanyang kama. Nang makita niya ako ay umikot ang kanyang mata at tinakpan ng kumot ang kanyang mukha. Stubborn.

"I don't want to see you."

I don't want to see her either. But, her starvation was... kind of my fault.

"Why did you say "if you're not eating, I'm not eating too" yesterday if you were starving?" sabi ko ng malumanay.

Ilang minuto na ang lumipas, wala pa ring sagot. Kaya bumuntong-hininga na lang ako at kinuha ang aking phone.

To Auriel: Stay solo in the dorm tonight.

(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)

Hello, guys! Here's another update. I hope you enjoyed and do me a favor of voting this chapter. Let me know what you think in the comments. God bless!